April 2010

Thursday, 29 April 2010

If it doesn't look like I'm writing much these days, it's probably because I'm sad and depressed at my best friend, Melinda, passing away unexpectedly.

I've known her since late 1992, through a Morrissey fanzine called The Morri-Zine (vol 4, #4). We became close friends. She was there to recommend taking over her Black Velveeta radio show, I became a radio DJ for KFSR 90.7 FM. She was there with me through our hostel adventures throughout England. She was there to buy my first beer when I turned 21 at midnight (the bartender didn't even check my ID!). She's always been there for me, and it's safe to say that I would not be the person I am today without her. If you have ever known Melinda, she is the kindest person you've ever met.

If you would like to observe her memorial service, details here: morrissey-solo.com (re-published below).

Melinda Hsu posted by davidt on Saturday April 24 2010, @07:00PM

I've just received word that a longtime fan and friend Melinda Hsu has passed away recently. Posting on the site as "Mel Torment", Melinda was very well known amongst Morrissey fans, often contributing to this site, forums and email lists. Morrissey himself recognized her and talk to her often during concerts.

Melinda's brother Victor asked if any friends have any pictures or mementos, they can be sent to hsugose@yahoo.com.

I remember Melinda for her dedication, so many times I would hear her report on a Morrissey show and think, "how in the world did she make it there?" There was never a Morrissey show too far. She was a great friend to the site, contributions were always very sharp and observant. I will miss her humor and generosity.

Below an article that Mel was kind enough to write for us two years ago.

Muzak and lounge versions of punk rock songs are no longer novel. But years before hipster smartarses started churning out their oh-so-ironic versions of punk rock songs, DJ Lebowitz was pounding out on the pianner (instrumentals only) some of my beloved punk rock faves, even exceeding the passion and intensity of the bands he covers.

I first encountered Beware of the Piano – a beat-up old LP which is currently out of print – in the vinyl archives at KUCR on a tip from DJ Tina Bold back in the 90s. I can’t find any graphic on the Internet of a cover of this album, so instead you get a photo of DJ Lebowitz taken from his own on website (the Bruce Latimer Show, photo by Hali McGrath).

But my impaired memory of the album cover was that it was a hand-drawn illustration of a suburban house and yard (maybe my deranged imagination is making this up, but there might’ve been a menacing upright piano stalking along the curb and I think there were also curly vine tendrils creeping along the fence or something). The light greenish tint and hand-drawn illustration brought to mind the illustration for Wally Pleasant’s Houses of the Holy Moly. I seem to remember a story possibly taken from the liner notes about how DJ Lebowitz got into rockin’ the piano. It goes something like this: He always wanted to play a badass instrument like guitar or drums, but his mom made him take piano lessons instead. But he still had the rockin’ desire and got his revenge by reinterpreting punk rock classics into piano songs. That punk.

My two favorite songs off of this LP are the covers of Judy Is a Punk (The Ramones) and Holiday in Cambodia (The Dead Kennedys). I don’t have much else to say about these songs except they are criminally fun-- oh and the way DJ Lebowitz reproduces the ending of “Pol Pot!” at the end of Holiday in Cambodia is especially delightful.

The only way to deal with Mel's death is to accept it. There is no other way. We all have a certain unbreakable appointment and we are all helpless targets in that regard. Life's only promise is its final deadline. When Mel, and others who are dear to us, depart, we should at least realize as we shuffle along living our small and persecuted lives, how absolutely ridiculous it is to be afraid of anything or anyone on this unhappy planet. Most people are standardized and unoriginal, which is useful, because it makes the Mels of the world stand out even more. Rich in ideas, her self-made calendars and t-shirts were always very funny. You will catch up with her in the afterlife, where I'm sure she will be as creative and busy and as Mel Torment as ever.

Wednesday, 28 April 2010

Ada Jane – Again…Again One of the benefits of living in a small city is incest. Not literally, ...

Loss of inhibitions.Loss of rational thought.Loss of hearing.Loss of basic vocabulary.Inability to control fists.These are symptoms of a total rock experience.Fortunately for musicians and unfortunately for the annals of audio history, your average rock fan will spaz out to pretty much anything with a guitar solo.This makes it difficult to judge the quality of a band by their band of loyal followers.When I saw the Magic Black Pumas play last summer with Ada Jane, the energy level was fierce, despite middling crowd draw.Fans wiggled their sexy bits with the fervor of a thousand Rock Band devotees and at least one “Fuck yeah!” was shouted to nothing in particular.For a local show, it was a good night.

Listening to Sticky Confection shines light on the band’s appeal.Where indie rock aspires to obfuscate stupidly simple concepts, the Pumas favor accessibility.Skimmers may write off the album as “conventional,” but clearly they are missing the point, which is:good music doesn’t need to be confusing.Furthermore, as a five-song EP, Sticky Confection displays surprising range, from the heavy-lidded “Black Lincoln” to the feverish, funk informed “Pink Caramel,” ending in guitar lickin’ glory (“Body Blow”).There’s a sort of steady beat that winds its way through each track and the showmanship is obvious:these guys appreciate a full sound.No tinkling keys or wasted breaths, or, God forbid, an inadvertent waltz.

The only puzzling (perhaps ‘peculiar’ is the better term) feature of the Puma’s music is their choice of lyrics.On the surface, wrapped in noise camo, one hardly notices the lyrics are bizarre.To wit:a thriving slippery virus moving through one body to the next / feel the glam penetration, the ballistics of sextan (“Trigger Virus”).Your first thought may be “this is clearly taking a page from the Psychedelic Handbook of Abstract Prose,” whereas my question is more succinct, less rhetorical:What?It’s a tad disillusioning when an otherwise approachable band suddenly pulls the rug out from under you…and then bludgeons your head with a soft—yet emotionally damaging—Nerf bat.

Symbolic cranial injuries aside, fans of the nebulous “alt-rock” genre (anywhere along the spectrum, Black Crowes to Black Keys) will appreciate the Pumas and their willingness to rock without reserve (and without irony).This ain’t music for your vegan boyfriends, girls.Sticky Confection sticks to the ribs like the Quarter Pounder you crave after said boyfriend tried to feed you a meal of tiny hay bales.It tastes even better with a cheap beer and a dirty floor, so check out the Magic Black Pumas this Saturday, May 1 at the 400 Bar in Minneapolis, Minnesota (with Ada Jane, Our Feature Presentation, and Ready Made Fire).

For more information, visit the band’s Myspace / Facebook (for ticketing go HERE).Sticky Confection was released in February of 2010.You can purchase the album digitally on iTunes.

Tuesday, 27 April 2010

Cristina stopped in to talk about Peter Steele's unexpected death.� Steele is best known for being the singer and songwriter of goth/metal band Type O Negative.� He died of heart failure at the age of 48.

PS, Also, hey, I'm sick. I haven't been feeling good since Saturday, and I fear it's probably because I went out every night for the past three weeks. I must've picked up this bug from standing too close to someone sick or just simply that mother nature is trying to shut me down. Either case, I'm taking it easy this next few weeks.

W♥M Radio will be going on hiatus for a while. You see, I've become increasingly unhappy with the Comcast service I'm getting. For the most part Comcast works, but on the days when it's not working, it's very frustrating. For instance, today (Tuesday), it's been going in and out sporadically. It happens on all the holidays (the most recent being on Easter when I was so mad that I couldn't get any work done).

So here's the thing, I pay $60 a month for their "high-speed" service, and I'm gone for twelve hours a day for my day job and going to shows at night, so when I am home, I just expect it to work, you know? And don't tell me it's my modem or my router, I do know how to reset them if it comes to that.

What's my alternative? I can't/won't use DSL. Really? You want me to hook up a phone line first? Really??? No thank you. There's basically no cable-type internet in my area, so my only option will have to be the free wifi coffee shops. I am probably going with the free option with also a $30 unlimited AT&T data plan for the iPad, which is not out until May 7th, so I'll have to wait for this option. That's my plan, I'll probably get rid of Comcast in June or July, we'll see.

____ Archive of this show at archive.org. More information on podomatic.comUpdate 5/1/2010 10:14am: Comcast's legendary comcrapstic service apparently reaches to a lot of people. And a lot of people vote for them to ultimately win The Golden Poo Award.� Number Two (get it?) is closely followed by Ticketmaster.

In a three-day, knock-down, drag-out bout with Ticket "Apollo Creed" Master, the little cable company that could showed just how badly their horrendous service, exorbitant costs, throttled internet and plans to acquire NBC Universal have ticked the Consumerist readers.

Sunday, 25 April 2010

Save Our Six: Why the Save 6 Music campaign is so importantBy Andrew Law

On the face of it, the Save 6 Music campaign is about preserving a radio station. On the face of it, 6 Music’s fate is not that consequential one way or another to most people. As we all know, though, appearances can be deceiving and in this case they most certainly are.

The Save 6 Music campaign isn’t about a radio station, it isn’t even about music. The Save 6 Music campaign is about no less lofty an issue than the entire purpose, function, and accountability of the BBC – inarguably one of the world’s best loved, best recognized, and best respected media institutions.

Is the BBC accountable to its peers in the media industry – who would love to see it continue cutting back, scaling down, and packing up (and it’s worth noting, Mr Thompson, these peers will not be appeased by a few million pounds of “efficiency savings”) – or is it accountable to the taxpayer, who funds its entire existence?

Is the purpose of the BBC to inform and educate the public while (as a publicly funded body) preserving the various sub-cultures that make Britain such a vibrant place to live, or is its purpose to generate profit in an effort to appease conservative politicians and sections of the press who resent its entire existence and robust financial footing in the first place?

And, finally, is the function of the BBC to produce entertaining popular content or is it to give a voice and opportunity to those artists, musicians, authors, and filmmakers who - due to the nature of their work - could never get a look-in at ITV, Sky, or even increasingly Channel 4? The BBC states its vision is “to be the most creative organization in the world”. How can it hope to fulfill this if it alienates those content producers vital to its entire creative output?

Really, it’s a question about how much we as a community, as a country, and as a culture, value the little man’s voice over the corporate giant’s. The BBC is a public service broadcaster, not a mass entertainment network. 6 Music and the Asian Network are the two clearest, least diluted, and most powerful examples of the BBC fulfilling that remit to a better ability than any other organization the world over could ever hope to. To lose these stations to flimsy reasoning and disingenuous logic would see the BBC commit itself to cultural irrelevance, and Caroline Thomson might find that those famed “37 year old men” who supposedly all listen to the same music may very well be lost to the BBC forever.

To quote from the video I made for the campaign, 6 Music is vital to music and it’s vital to education, to cut it now would be a travesty. So please, BBC Trust, make us all proud and stop this ludicrous decision in its tracks.

Sia. I heard a track by this artist agges ago in early 2000 with a track called Taken For Granted...

In a word: Sia is magical.

She stopped by Minneapolis to play the Fine Line Cafe, which, not surprisingly, sold-out. I've said this before, but unless you're in the front, seeing the stage is next to impossible, especially if you're short. Do tall people not understand that they're blocking somebody's view if they're in front ? I think this could be rectified easily, if perhaps the stage was higher, but alas, it's not.

Opening up for Sia was Brooklyn's Body Language, who's DIY 80s songs did not really fit well with Sia's pop sound. It was Body Language's last show with Sia, and as sad as that sounds, the band's music remains mostly cheery.

By the time Sia took the stage, the venue is packed from shoulder-to-shoulder. This may be because the Fine Line, for some reason, did not allow for re-entry. Now, this is not the first time that I've been to a show that was "no re-entry" policy, and I never got the logic behind this.

Sia arrived on stage with a glowing unicorn light-up horn on her head. The horn lit up in different colors, controlled by a switch, during her intro song, "The Fight". This is followed by her previous intro song, "Buttons", the hidden gem off of Some People Have Real Problems.

A lot of her songs on this set was from her forth-coming album, We Are Born, to be released in June by Jive Records. Based on what I've heard, they are really quite good. Particularly impressed by "Clap Your Hands" and "The Codependent".

There was one guy in the audience who held a spinning LED sign for "Destiny", which Sia had to let him down by saying "We've long retired those Zero 7 songs. So if you came to hear that, we're not doing them. You might as well go home now." The tone wasn't cold, it was said in an affectionate, joking manner, so I didn't think the Destiny dude cried whilst fleeing from the crowd.

Which brings me to the fact that inbetween songs, Sia would ask for people to shout heckles at her. Most of her comments are pretty off-beat and funny (in a "where the heck did that come from?" way). For instance, she tells us a story about how she had Taco Bell and ultimately got, what she affectionately refers to as, "uh-oh bum". Another odd one, someone shouted out "Pee on You", which apparently was a joke-song that Sia recorded on her tour bus. And yes, they improv the song live. The banters are indeed the best part of the show.

She did two covers, Madonna's "Oh Father" and The Kinks' "I Go To Sleep". The former had a long introduction about how they recorded the song with some altered lyrics, but Madonna's record company rejected it and they were forced to record a "correct" version for We Are Born. Defiantly Sia said that when they do it live, they do it the incorrect way.... and when she said incorrect - literally because the stanza was sung out of order, unintentionally! But hey, it's like no one noticed anyway.

Sia and her fairy-winged bubble machine

She ended the set with "Breathe Me" from Colour the Small One. She came back, complete with her fairy-winged bubble machine for the two songs for the encore. Almost in unison, everyone held up their phone, camera, recording device to snap this unforgettable moment.

Look for We Are Born in June, preview her new material now if you see her on tour. Well worth it, just for the random banters between the songs.

Here We Go Music is celebrating their self-titled debut album on Western Vinyl by doing a nation...

Here We Go Magic is currently on tour for their self-titled debut album on Western Vinyl. Strangely, their tour buddies White Rabbits was absent for the Varsity Theater show in Minneapolis.

The Arms Akimbo

Laarks

Displacing them were two bands, starting with The Arms Akimbo. They're a local band, who seems to be inspired by British rock, as evident by their song, "Stories of England" towards the end of their set. Also, two points to the guitarist's haircut for looking very Noel Gallagher-esque.

Laarks are from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and as you've listened to our podcasts, you'd know that this is a hot bed of music activities. And since they're close to Minneapolis, a lot of locals here adopts Eau Claire bands as "locals" (in a sense like they consider Duluth bands like Low and Trample by Turtles local).

This is Here We Go Magic's second time in Minneapolis, and arguably their favorite yet as spoken by drummer Peter. Since the band's been on constant touring for a long time, last night was the first time that they had down time to actually eat dinner at a restaurant. It was also special because it was guitarist Mike's birthday.

Everyone is in a good mood, looking refreshed and glowing. Luke Temple (in a straw hat) spent most of the time jamming on his guitar, except for a few songs where he's on keys next to Kristina.

Most of their songs seems to focus more on layers of instrumental. Lots of noises and dancing on stage.

Look for the band to gain more fans as they tour Europe with The New Pornographers later this Summer, just in time for their sophomore album, Pigeons to be released on Secretly Canadian.

Brazilian Bebel Gilberto is touring the US, starting in Washington on November 23rd. Her latest a...

From just looking at her short nine national dates, I was happy to see Céu (pronounced "say-you" by the announcer) had chosen to stop by Minneapolis at the Dakota Jazz Club to play her Brazilian jazzy, samba music.

Warming up for her was local Ill Chemistry, who basically vocal beatboxer Carnage and singer Desdamona. Their sound is basically urban hip-hop, with lyrics like "rocket like that, rocket like this" (which they ended their set with).

I'm no expert when it comes to the type of music this venue plays, but I did get the impression that it's mostly Jazz and World Music - the kind you find on NPR. I was told by the couple at our table that it's the first time they've heard hip-hop at the Dakota. They're regulars who also tells me that the Dakota is #4 Jazz Club in the country (behind New York and Los Angeles).

Unfortunately, depending on where you sit at the Dakota, it can be hard to see the performance. It's evident by random people standing up and moving around... Sure, there are television displaying the live performance, but what's the point of watching a TV (you might as well be at home).

I'm pretty sure all the songs sung last night was in Portuguese. The music is what you'd expect, loungey and slow and easy-going - which is exactly what the title Vagarosa translates to. There are a few songs that was meant for dancing, but seeing as the Dakota is strictly a seat/table experience ... there was no dancing.

Céu at the Dakota Jazz Club (04/21/10) - photo by John

Highlight of the show for me was her cover of "It Takes Two to Tangle". There was another cover performed, but I wasn't familiar with it.

If you can't catch the "most successful Brazilian female artists of our time" Céu on her limited tour, her Grammy and Latin Grammy nominated album, Vagarosa, is out now on Six Degrees Records.

I've mentioned before that I think a band is important/notable when they have a Wikipedia page......

For a school/work night, Tuesday at the Varsity Theater in Dinkytown, was surprisingly full of young people. Again, I absolutely the venue, the staff are friendly, the drinks are reasonable, and it's spacious (this is especially important for the "merch" table).

I read online that the doors weren't opened until 8pm, so I arrived a bit late, at 9, but even so, there was still a massive lineup leading into the front door.

Inside, it was pretty packed and the opener, Phantogram had already started their set sharply at nine. The boys around me, including myself, was pretty smitten with keys/singer Sarah Barthel, who had this kind of Sandie Shaw haircut to her.

They had a movie projector behind them, playing movies like moving cars or lights and shadows and trees, which adds a little to the music. Highlight from their set is probably "Wishing Well", which I don't think is on their Barsuk album, Eyelid Movies. You can read more details about this album on my review.

Despite what their setlist said (a total of 8 songs), The Antlers played more than an hour's worth of music. Maybe their songs are just "extra long" because of the "experimental" things, but I would argue that I think there were songs that were played that's not on the setlist. For instance, I'm pretty sure that I heard singer Peter Silberman said one of their song played was "Tip" (an old song).

The Antlers at The Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (04/20/10)

Most of the songs played were from their album, Hospice.

There were two encore songs, the final song played was "Epilogue", which is very fitting for its title.

Look for the band to continue with Phantogram and then with The National (hot buzz band) later on in June. Hospice is out now on Frenchkiss Records.

Megafaun is a neckbeard, folky band from North Carolina. Pitchfork loves them (recently gave Gath...

“Megafun!”

What is ‘Megafaun’:animal, vegetable or mineral?Why is Megafaun, whose dulcet tones never cease to baffle the critical observer?Who is Megafaun, seen prowling the tempestuous landscape of indie-Utopia?Careful, you might blink and miss the beard.

As if one could avoid the wild rumpus surrounding the best thing to come out of Eau Claire since founder of Menards franchise, John R. Menard, Jr.If the Cedar’s crowded mainroom was indicative of devout presence, Megafaun may very well be the new Messiah of Midwest roots rock.

The trouble with classifying the band as ‘roots rock’ is the inevitable resignation that occurs—a byproduct of oversimplification.To hear Megafaun is to experience a whirlwind of regional and generational enthusiasm, at once familiar and disjointed.There’s the obvious nod to Americana and canyon folk, plus a little jazz infusion, and also WEIRD EXPERIMENTAL SHIT.You heard right:experimental jazzy Americana.

While Friday’s show was an overall success, it was difficult at times to find a consistent groove.The band’s most approachable music leans heavily on a time-tested formula:beautiful harmonization and picturesque prose.Take “Kaufman’s Ballad,” a traveling cavalcade of banjo plucks and pretty, musing lyrics, so easy on the digestive system, Metamucil’s taking notes.

Conversely, during brief interludes from the pretty was the messy.I’ll be the first to admit that experimental music has about the same effect on my soul as an awkward crotch scratch:feels good at first but always leaves a rash.That’s cool.

Megafaun is a trio of talented musicians, no one’s arguing, but towards the end of the show when the brothers Cook (and surrogate bro Joe “Cool Guy” Westerlund) ventured to a dark, ultramodern place, many of us chose not to follow.Brains went on sabbatical.Butts fell asleep.It was a wee bit boring.

Fans may argue that one of band’s strengths is their effortless ability to cross genres.This is true.However, unless the audience is comprised entirely of musicians, an 8-minute indie “jam” loses its charm quickly.Contrary to the epileptic man sitting behind me—whose legs flailed about, possessed—mind-bending drone rock does not promote foot stompin’.(And the people want to stomp their feet, goddammit.)

Minor grievances aside, Megafaun is a band to keep watching.In addition to sharing a distaste for barbers, Brad and Phil Cook demonstrate the power of good genes in synchronized vocal laps, with the former’s hearty baritone occasionally pulling ahead (on tracks like “The Fade”).Westerlund’s bang-for-your-buck beats keep the feet in steady stomp, and the whole package sounds real good on a brisk, starry night.If you can bear the occasional creative detour, definitely take these boys for a ride.

Megafaun is currently on the West Coast/Southern leg of their tour.For a complete list of dates, visit their Website or Myspace.Gather, Form & Fly (released July 09) is available for purchase at Hometapes.The band will be back in the studio this fall to record their third album.